And within days since the last development on pesticides testing on fresh fruits and vegetables, FRAC’s highly competent Technical Team has developed testing facility for conducting analysis of the entire list of pesticides that have beenprescribed by FSSAI.

FICCI Research and Analysis Centre’s location:

The Technical Team floated the great news to all:

Dear All,

It is to inform you, that optimization process for the quantitative determination of pesticides “as mentioned under FSSAI (i.e. list of 149 pesticides)” has been completed by instrument lab using LC-MSMS. Hence from now onwards, all the pesticides as per FSSAI shall be analyzed In-House. The attachment has a list of total 231 pesticides along with other parameters, which now need not to be sent to other lab for analysis.

Point to remember: No subcontracting to be done for analysis of pesticides and other parameters listed in the attachment. (As per FSSAI and all other regulatory body)

Whenever we speak about stones, we can only think about stones in gall bladder or in kidney. But have you ever heard of Tonsil Stones, or tonsilloliths?

Our tonsils are filled with nooks and crannies where bacteria and other materials, including dead cells and mucous, can become trapped. When this happens, the debris can become concentrated in white formations, the tonsil stones, that occur in the pockets. Tonsil stones are most common in teens and those with large tonsils. Those with poor dental hygiene may also experience tonsil stones.

How do I know if I have Tonsil Stones?

Typically, tonsil stones can be seen as white, yellow or grey nodes on the tonsils. Though, many tonsil stones aren’t visible because they are burrowed down inside of the tonsil.

Some people have no symptoms when afflicted with tonsil stones. Those who do have symptoms often report redness or irritation of the tonsils. There are several other symptoms that can be related to tonsil stones, with bad breath being one of the most obvious. According to the Mayo Clinic, bacteria grow on the stones, which produces a foul odor.

People with throat stones can also feel like they have something stuck in their throats.

So, how bad can it be?

Tonsil infections that lead to chronic bad breath are most often due to tonsil stones. Although tonsil stones are fairly common, many dentists and physicians miss them completely when their patients complain of halitosis.

A study published in the journal Microbes and Infection concluded that tonsil stones cause halitosis because they are crawling with anaerobic bacteria.

Bromine is a chemical compound frequently used in flame retardants, baking ingredients, cell phones, plastic, dye, soda, and prescription drugs. Bromine is found naturally in the earth’s crust and in seawater in various chemical forms. Bromine can also be found as an alternative to chlorine in swimming pools. Products containing bromine are also used in agriculture and sanitation.

Research has identified the following 10 dangers of bromine as the most damaging to human health. Edibles that carry bromine are the most dangerous, as they are directly consumed.

Affects Thyroid Functionality: Lack of iodine causes thyroid related health problems. Bromine on the other hand is anti-iodine. It restricts the absorption of iodine in body, which is essential for the health of thyroid hormones. Bromine exposure impairs the gland, and results in health issues like hypothyroidism, goiter, and hormonal imbalance.
What is thyroid? How is it caused?

Preterm Births and Birth Defects: Another role that iodine plays is keeping the process of conception and pregnancy healthy. And as stated above, Bromine restricts iodine absorption. Exposure to bromine to expectant mothers may increase risk for delivering preterm babies. Avoiding the bromine exposure can also be tricky. Even if you avoid baking ingredients and soda, bromine can also be present in drinking water. An Australian study even reported a link between bromide exposure and birth defects.

Affects Cognitive Development and Failure: Mental dysfunction related to the overexposure to bromine is so common it even has a name — bromism. In one specific case of bromism, a patient consumed vast amounts of soda that contained brominated vegetable oil. The patient experienced problems including fatigue, headache, memory problems, and loss of muscle control.

High bromine intake causes slow cognitive development.

Skin puffs and burns: Bromine acnes are pus-filled eruptions and lesions were observed in individuals who took bromine for nerve conditions.
Acne caused because of bromine exposure.

It is important to test food products for bromine content. As per BIS norms water must not contain bromate. Get your product tested from FICCI Research and Analysis Centre.Call 011-45333500 / 529 or drop an email at : info@fraclabs.org

It was a Sunday and you decided to stay up late for the cricket match or a Nolan movie. Because why not? It’s still a holiday! What comes next though is a regretful, sleepy and tiring Monday! The eyes are heavy. It is a task in itself keeping the lids open and give a blank stare at the monitor. The fingers give up on typing and all you need is a nice warm cozy sleep.

Well, we can’t promise you that your boss will let you have a small nap. But here is what we got : list of stuff you could do to wake yourself the hell up!!

An apple a day doesn’t just keep the doctor away. But also saves you from an angry mail from the Human Resource about your slow day at work! Having an apple in the morning, puts away the sleepiness.
An apple a day will keep anyone away, if thrown hard enough.

Water helps too, and not just splashing it across your face, but drinking some too! Dehydration is actually a big cause of tiredness. So what is the opposite of dehydrated? Yeah, hydration! So have lots of water.
Another benefit is, when the bladder fills up, you have to visit the loo too often which
in turn makes you move around and physically up!

Staying hydrated helps staying up!

Cold air is a solution too. Cold air keeps your body’s heating system cranking and you will shiver yourself awake. However, if it is an Indian summer time, don’t go for the cooling option! It will only make you cozier. Rather, let yourself sweat. (word of caution: don’t forget some deodorant!)Sweaty hands are a big put off. Here’s how you can fight it!

Get some fresh air. Now this helps a lot! Sometimes sitting in a warm office with a comfortable chair, flickering computer screen and a gentle whisper of talking workmates is enough to send anyone to sleep. Go outside and breathe in some of the fresh air for a few minutes.

If all fails, this might be the only solution. Watch this video for step-by-step instructions.

Beans: It is a high fiber solution. Beans are especially high in cholesterol-lowering soluble fiber. Eating a cup of any type of beans a day—particularly kidney, navy, pinto, black, chickpea, or butter beans—can lower cholesterol by as much as 10% in 6 weeks.

Salmon: The heart friendly fat is an excellent source of protein because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids called EPA and DHA that are good for your heart while low in cholesterol and saturated fat. American Heart Association now recommends eating at least two servings of fish every week, preferably fatty fish, by far the richest sources of fish-oil omega-3s.

Avocado: These delectable green orbs pack more of the cholesterol-smashing beta-sitosterol (a beneficial plant-based fat) than any other fruit. Beta-sitosterol reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food. So the combination of beta-sitosterol and monounsaturated fat makes the avocado an excellent cholesterol buster.Avocado can fight depression too!

Tea: In our recent posts, a lot of health benefits of tea have come up. Tea can fight Arthritis. Flavonoids, the major antioxidants in tea, have been shown to prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that leads to plaque formation on artery walls. These powerful antioxidants may even reduce cholesterol and even lower blood pressure.

Go Nuts: A moderate-fat diet that’s rich in the healthy monounsaturated fats found in nuts may actually be twice as good for your heart as a low-fat diet. Nuts also have vitamin E, magnesium, copper, and phytochemicals that have been linked to heart health. And walnuts are also rich in omega-3s. People who eat nuts regularly have less heart disease and other illnesses than people who don’t. The heart-healthy monounsaturated fats they contain are also better for your joints than the polyunsaturated fats found in corn and safflower oils. However, they are rich in calories! So moderation is the key!

A day long headache can really affect your productivity! Here are some remedies to cure the headache.

Ever had a day when the only thing ruling your day is a terrible headache! It could be because of any reason – stress, tension, indigestion, restlessness, sinus problems, migraines, lack of sleep and dehydration.

Many people reach for over-the-counter medicines to get rid of their headaches. However, you can get instant pain relief using some easy and natural home remedies. Here are some remedies for curing the headache that has kept you from focussing on work:

Consume lots of water: If the cause of your headache is dehydration, you can easily get relief from the pain by rehydrating your body.

Simply drink a glass of water at the first sign of a headache and continue taking small sips throughout the day.

Along with water, you can have sports drinks. The electrolytes present in sports drinks can treat headaches caused by tension and dehydration.

When suffering from a headache, stay away from drinks like alcohol that can dehydrate your body

Put some Ice Pack: Placing a cold compress like an ice pack on your forehead will numb the pain, help shrink the blood vessels and improve circulation to the area. This particular remedy works well for headaches due to stress or sinus problems.

Wrap some ice cubes or crushed ice in a thin towel. Hold it against your forehead for a few minutes. A bag of frozen vegetables can also serve as an icepack. Never apply ice directly on your skin as it can damage the skin.

Alternatively, apply a cold cloth on your head and temples for 10 minutes and repeat the process for some time until you get relief.

Elixir of Ginger: Ginger is a home remedy for instant relief. It helps reduce inflammation of the blood vessels in the head, hence easing the pain. And since it stimulates digestion, it also helps quell the nausea which occurs during migraines.
Wondering how to use this miracle ingredient? Steep ginger root for tea, or mix equal parts of ginger juice and lemon juice and drink up. You can consume this once or twice a day. You can also apply a paste of ginger powder and 2 tablespoons water on your forehead for a few minutes to provide quicker relief.Did you know, green tea can reduce your Arthritis?

An Apple a Day Keeps Headaches Away as well: Both apples and apple cider vinegar can be used to fight off a headache. They help restore the acid-alkaline balance in the body. Furthermore, simply the smell of green apples can help reduce migraine headaches.

When you wake up in the morning with a headache, eat a piece of apple sprinkled with some salt. Then drink some warm water.

Alternatively, fill a large bowl with steaming hot water and add 3 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to it. Hold a towel over your head and take in the steam for 10 to 15 minutes.

Cinnamon does the charm: Cinnamon is a miracle spice that can effectively treat headaches. Wondering how to use it? Here’s help: Grind some cinnamon sticks into a powder, and add some water to make a thick paste. Apply it on your forehead and temples and lie down for 30 minutes. Then wash it off with lukewarm water.

Prevent further episodes of sweaty hands successfully. These remedies are easily available at home and can also be carried along with you while you are on the move so that you hands remain dry and fresh all throughout the day.

Sweaty hands not only puts off the person with whom you are shaking hands with, but also embarrass ourselves. It affects our social life, and we often try to avoid situations where you might require to shake hands, like closing a deal or meeting your colleagues at work. Several reasons like stress, hormone problems etc. can be attributed to sweaty hands. Instead of worrying about the problem, try these wonderful remedies that not only help treat the condition but also prevent further episodes of sweaty hands successfully. These remedies are easily available at home and can also be carried along with you while you are on the move so that you hands remain dry and fresh all throughout the day.

Remedies for Sweaty Hands

Water: Sweaty hands are particularly worse on people whose body gets hot very fast. The best way to avoid this is to drink plenty of cool water all throughout the day. This will help the body to remain cool and prevent sweaty hands as well. Drink at least 2-3 litres of water to keep your body temperature under control.

Alcohol: By this, we do not mean alcohol consumption! Alcohol has a drying and dehydrating effect on the body and hence a wonderful natural remedy for treating sweaty palms. Rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based products on the hands will immediately give a drying effect to the palms. It is recommended to use alcohol wipes every now and then to control sweatiness of the palms.

Talcum Powder: If you’re at home and don’t mind your hands looking a little white, sprinkle them with a powder to temporarily absorb the sweat. This can come in handy if your sweaty hands inhibit daily activities like lifting weights, jumping rope or completely chores that require a tight grip.
Talcum Powder also helps keep the hands dry.

Black Tea Bags: Application of black tea bags help in the shrinking of pores and also in reducing the chances of sweat from seeping though the pores. Take moist tea bags and hold them inside your palms for a few minutes every few hours.

In a recent discovery, detailed in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology, researchers confirmed that a compound in green tea may offer a potential new approach to combating the joint pain, inflammation and tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid Arthritis, a chronic progressive disease, causes in the joints and resulting in painful deformity and immobility, especially in the fingers, wrists, feet, and ankles.

How to cure RA?

In a recent discovery, detailed in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology, researchers confirmed that a compound in green tea may offer a potential new approach to combating the joint pain, inflammation and tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

The researchers confirmed their findings in a pre-clinical animal model of human rheumatoid arthritis, where they observed that ankle swelling in animals given the compound in a 10-day treatment plan was markedly reduced.

“Existing drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are expensive, immunosuppressive and sometimes unsuitable for long-term use,” said lead researcher Salah-uddin Ahmed from Washington State University in Spokane, US.

These symptoms mean your body is dehydrated. Consume more water to stay healthy!
Read more to find out the signs of dehydration…

“Jal hi jeevan hai” (water is life)

Water is an essential requirement of our body. It keeps us hydrated, it its pure form. Every cell, tissue, and organ in the body needs water to function correctly. Our body uses water to maintain its temperature, remove waste, and lubricate joints. People are at higher risk of dehydration if they exercise at a high intensity, have certain medical conditions, are sick, or are not able to get enough fluids during the day. Older adults are also at higher risk. As you get older, your brain may not be able to sense dehydration and send the signals for thirst. (source: Family Doctor)

Predict your own heart attack!
Constant fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath. If you are facing most of these, visit the nearest physician at the earliest.

India has a death rate of 138, when it comes to deaths caused by Heart diseases. The stressful way of life and the junk food we keep eating is a great contributor for this illness becoming so common and so dangerous over the last years.

Leading a healthy lifestyle and trying to decrease the levels of stress in your life can help protect you from heart failure, but another thing that can be very useful, even lifesaving, is knowing the symptoms of heart failure a month before it happens.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptons, makr it as a red flag, and consult your physician at the earliest:

Fatigue: Narrowed up arteries cause lesser blood to flow in the body. This results in heart to function much harder to be able to give same amount of blood to all organs, which in turn makes the person drained out and tired.

Shortness of Breath: When the heart is not able to get enough blood, the lungs are not able to receive sufficient oxygen. The two systems depend on one another so without one you can’t have the other. If you have been having trouble breathing it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible, this could mean it is getting close to time for your attack.

Weakness : Since the muscle are not able to receive sufficient amount of blood and oxygen, the muscles tend to remaind tired and make you weak. If you have been feeling weak for too long, do consider meeting your physician!

Dizziness and Cold Sweats: The poor circulations is also causing the blood flow to your brain to be restricted. This is very life threatening. This will at first cause dizziness and clamminess. You should not ignore this.

Discomfort in Heart: If you are having onset symptoms of a heart attack chances are you have been experiencing discomfort in your chest, whether it’s minor pain or built-up pressure. This will constantly increase until the attack itself happens.

Flu: Flu symptoms out of nowhere could be because the attack itself is about to happen within the near future. Many people reported that they had developed a cold just days before their attacks.

There could be other symptoms as well. Take care of your heart. Immediately visit a doctor if you feel most of these symptoms are experienced by you recently!